Wheel-hub



(No Model.)

JfR. ANDERSON.

Wheel Hub.

Patented April 12,'1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. ANDERSON, OF LONAGONING, MARYLAND.

WHEEL-HUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,000, dated April 12,1881.`

Application tiled February 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern i Beit known that I, JAMEs R. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lonaconing, in the county of Alleghany and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hubs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, which form a part of this speciication.

This invention relates to closed lubricatinghubs, or such as have no portion open so as to expose their interior to access of dirt, dust, or the weather; and the invention is specially applicable to the wheels of coal-mine cars, although I do not limit my invention to this single use, it being valuable in other classes of Wheels.

The invention in its most limited form consists of a lubricating-hub no portion of Whose exterior is open except the bore for the reception of a round axle-nib, and having` an inclosed cavity for the reception of lubricant and a linchpin or equivalent device for attaching the wheel to its axle, and a spring-slide automatically covering an openingxinto said cavity for the admission thereinto of lubricant and the tixing and withdrawal of the linchpin, all as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the drawings, inthe several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coal-mine- .car wheel embodying my invention, the linchpin being shown as partially withdrawn and held by the spring-slide, in this position the Wheel being capable of being removed. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of my hub 5 Fig. 3, a cross-section on line .fr :c of Fig. 2,

inclosed Within the hub. An opening, d, is

madein thehub inline with the cavity, through which lubricant'is inserted into said cavity. This openin g is` kept automatically closed by a slide, c. iitted therein, as by dovetailing, (see Fig. 3,) and pressed home over the opening d by a spring,j', which is arranged in a socket, g, in the hub, said socket being closed and the spring held therein by a screw plug, h, fitted therein from the rear. The slide e is adapted to be pressed'back against its spring into the socket g, to uncover the openingd to admit the insertion of lubricant into the cavity. This opening also serves to permit the insertion of a linchpin, t, or equivalent fastening for the nib kof the axle, and said linchpin has an eye, j, in it, by means of which a hook, l, may be employed for removing or in-.w

serting it. When the linchpin is drawn from the axle it may be held in the hub secure against loss by the spring-slide e pinching it against the end of the opening d in the hub, as seen in Fig. 1.

Experience has demonstrated to me that in the hurried use of coal-cars in mines the axles frequently lack proper lubrication, and are exposed to dust, grit, and the weather, cntailing injury and frequent need of repair and expensive renewals. Attempts have heretofore been made to correct these evils, but, so far as I am aware, without practical -success, owing probably to their complexity and costliness. By my solid hub, having its inclosed lubricant-cavity and facilities for quickly lubricating, attaching, and de taching the wheel, I believe, after practical working, that I have solved and removed the old problelnof difficulties.

1,. A hub made in one piece and having an axle-bore, a communicating lubricant-cavity in horizontal line with said bore and Wholly inclosed within such hub, and an automatically-closed opening into said cavity, all constructed, as described, to entirely cover the axle and protect it and its lubricant from dust, &c.

2. A solid hub, a, having an inclosed lubricant-cavity, c, with an opening, d, thereinto, to permit the insertion of lubricant and the sa i 240.000

use of a linehpin in the axle, and a spring- .slide, e, fitted in and automatically closing said opening, substantially as described.

3. A Wheel for coal-mine cars, havin g a solid hub, a, said hub containing a lubricant-cavity, c, a spring-slide, e, to automatically close an opening into said cavity, and an axle-receiving bore lubricated from said cavity, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing` as 1o my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES R. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL M. PETRIE, JOSEPH MYERS. 

